In my work as a mental health professional and a health and human services provider, I believe in practicing an integrative approach that bridges both mental health and physical health. Integrative health care combines an array of non-mainstream health care approaches with mainstream approaches in physical and mental health care. Clinical depression and clinical anxiety are both based on neuroscience as well as psycho-social factors. Therefore, incorporating integrative therapies and healing practices when providing intervention and treatment for both can be very effective for most clients.

Music therapy also helps to promote health and healing for both depression and anxiety. Other effective botanical medicines are B-Vitamins because they help in the production and regulation of neurotransmitters associated with depression. Folic acid and Omega-3 fatty acid are also believed to be effective. Although there is a tendency to believe that herbal remedies for such clinical conditions is largely effective for most people, that belief has no research backing. However, it is believed that some herbal supplements have a more likely chance of improving certain symptoms for some people, yet need further study (Forsyth & Eifert, 2007).

There is also the possibility of adverse reactions to these alternatives which can sometimes be unsafe. If individuals are taking prescription medications to treat these clinical conditions they should be careful about mixing herbal alternatives with these medications. It is very important that they check with a pharmacist or a doctor before doing so to avoid negative interactions between the two. Some clients improve with both clinical counseling in conjunction with psychopharmacology, which is always my personal recommendation. However, most respond positively to medications alone, although certain mood and anxiety disorders respond best to specific evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Xiomara A. Sosa is Founder and Principal of XAS Consulting, LLC (XAS), a boutique hybrid private practice she founded in 2003 to integrate the role of mental health, physical health, and human services efforts in providing culturally competent services to the Hispanic, veteran and sexual minority (LGBTQQIA) communities and to first and second responders. Xiomara is a clinical mental health – forensic counselor, a nonprofit executive, a social change advocate, and a United States military veteran. She provides clinical mental health-forensic counseling; community relations; disaster mental health; healthcare advocacy; therapeutic life coaching; and service to the armed forces.
Xiomara practices a progressive, innovative path to integrative health by combining mental healthcare, physical healthcare, and human services. As an integrative healthcare provider she works with individuals, couples and families of mixed ages and genders. She is bilingual (Spanish) and provides services in private consultation, by telephone or electronically. As a multicultural counselor her cultural competency is especially focused on working with the Hispanic, veteran, and sexual and gender minority (LGBTQQIA) communities. Full bio at http://xasconsulting.com/?page_id=195